Binder follower



c. J. PANFIL, SR

Aug. 4, 1953 BINDER FOLLOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1947 INVENTO Clyra/cffknz/fir Aug. 4, 1953 Filed April 4, 1947 C. J. PANFlL, SR

BINDER FOLLOWER 2 She ets-Sheet 2 fafziwr/ c/ A INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 BINDER FOLLOWER Conrad J. Panfil, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Heinn Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of Wisconsin Application April 4, 1947, Serial N 0. 739,383

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a binder follower for positively raising the sheets in a loose-leaf binder when closing the binder, to prevent interference between the rings or posts and the sheets and tearing of the latter.

Followers are usually constructed of stiff fiber material having extended slots for receiving the rings or posts of the binder and with the inner edge support for each follower member extending substantially across the base of the binder back to effect a leverage for raising the sheets during closing of the binder. Where the rings are large for large capacity binders or where the sides of the rings are perpendicular postssuch followers have proven to be inadequate.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a follower which positively and automatically raises the sheets from the sides of the rings or posts during closing of the binder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a follower which does not tend to tear the sheets and which support the sheets in their intended I position relative to the rings or posts at all times.

Another object is to prevent interference between the rings or posts and the sheets.

Another object is to more effectively provide for the rapid and complete closingv of the binder cover without jamming of the sheets between the cover and the rings or posts.

The invention utilizes a fixed pivot support for each follower member disposed near the axial center for the curved part of the rings or posts. Freedom of movement for the inner edges of the sheets is provided by connecting each follower member to its corresponding pivot hinges by an arm extending between each hinge and the .mem-

ber and disposed substantially at right angles to the member.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an open binder with the sheets lying flat and partly broken away to show the follower construction in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section taken through the supporting pivot, arm and follower,-

Fig. 6 is a detail view corresponding to a part of Fig. 5 showing a modified form of follower supporting arm employed with a separable ring binder; and

Fig. '7 is a detail section through the follower arm of Fig. 6.

The follower is illustrated as employed in a loose-leaf binder comprising a stiff back I and side cover flaps 2 relatively foldable at the edges of the back.

The back I has the ring base 3 secured thereto on the inside of the binder, and which is adapted to receive a plurality of loose sheets 4 of paper or the like to hold the same in the binder.

The base 3 ha a plurality of ring members made up of cooperating posts 5 either in the form of vertical posts curved inwardly at the top to meet like a ring and which separate in angular movement, as in separable base binders such as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 herein, or in the form of separable rings as in the usual ring binder illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The lower ends of the posts 5 are preferably welded to the base 3.

The curvature of the posts 5 constituting the ring members should be on a diameter substantially in excess of that required to accommodate the sheets so that there can be no interference between the inner edges of the sheets on opposite sidesof the binder when the latter is open, and to provide a central space for the pivot or pivots hereinafter described.

The follower employed with the binder comprises two follower members or plates 6 of stiff fiber material and which are adapted to lie against the inside of the corresponding covers 2 and to support the sheets 4 therebetween.

Each follower plate 6 has a slot 1 therein to accommodate a corresponding post 5, the length of the slot extending radially of the curvature of the post and being sufficient to maintain freedom of action of the follower at all times without interference from the post.

Each follower plate 6 is supported by one or more arms 8 extending at right angles from the region of the inner edge of the plate toward the center line 9 of curvature of the several posts, and which is pivotally mounted on a pivot post 10 extending upwardly from base 3 and disposed at or near to the center line 9. Preferably, two arms 8 are employed for each plate 6, and each *arm 8 is mounted upon a corresponding pivot ment with the sheets 4.

sides of the ring members 5.

The pivot posts it constitute vertically disposed rods welded at their lower ends to the base 3 and having their upper ends bent horizontally in a direction generally longitudinal of the base to provide a central pivot journal I i for each post adapted to enter a bearing opening in the endof the corresponding arm 8.

In the binder of Figs. 1 to 5, the base3 is-constructed of two parts separable along a central parting line I2 by angular movement controlled by the links it, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. For this purpose the posts it for each followergplate 6 are mounted on the part of the base which carries the corresponding ring posts holding the plate.

In the ring binder of Figs. 6 and '7, there is shown a loose leaf binder comprising a sti'il diack i and cover flaps 2 as in the first embodiment but the base I4 is notseparable, and the posts I5 may be disposed centrally thereof to conserve inspace requirementsas shown.

'The'arms l6 may-be of various detail constructions. In-general, they are preferably' formed-of strip material of metal or plastic and should "be shaped to securely-hold thecorresponding-plates.

The arms i6 illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 are formed from strip material bent at right angles at the inner edge of the corresponding plate and each of which is twisted to turn the plane of the strip at right angles as it extends toward the pivot journal H. The inner endof each arm has aholefor-receiving thecorresponding journal W. The outer end of each arm is riveted to the corresponding plate 18.

The twist in each arm provides a recess for the edge of the plate ill to hold the latter more securely and eliminate the possible requirement of more than one-rivet.

The arms it illustrated in the embodiment of Figs-6 and '7 are formed from stripmaterial bent at-rightangles and recessedat the corner to receive the inner edge of the corresponding plate '18. The outer end of each is riveted to-the plate 18. The inner end of each arm is curled oylindrically to encircle the corresponding pivot journal I 'i The pivot journals 5! for the arms l6 of a given plate it may extend -in opposite directions provided that a limited pivotal action is per- .mitted for one of the arms upon its rivet attachment to the plate, to enable its displacement for slipping over the .free end of the corresponding iournalli.

It is preferable, however, to have the pivot journals ll extend :in the same direction and to be of sufficient length and positioned relative to the arms it :so that when the posts 19 extend through the slots it, the plate i=8 cannot she moved longitudinally .to tree the arms 46 rtrom journals ll. When the posts i9 are separated and the sheets corresponding to sheets 4 in Figure 1 are removed from a given set of posts, the corresponding follower plate 18 may "be tipped to free it from posts is and then moved longitudinally to free its arms i6 from journals H.

The follower of the present invention provides a positive lifting action upon the sheets when the cover is being closed, so that none of the sheets becomes caught between the cover and the When the binder is open, the follower plates lie iiaton the covers and allow the use of the full capacity of .the ring members 5 and it for sheets 4 and Ill. Upon closing of the hinder the follower Plates more upwardly in advance of the covers and lift the sheets toward the top of the ring members.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. Afollowerfor a binderof the class described, comprising a plate, at least one supporting arm therefor stamped from sheet material and having one end overlapping said plate, and a rivet securing the arm to the plate at said overlap, the rcentral portion of said arm being bent against the side of ,said plate opposite said overlap to confine the edge 'of said plate and provide a three point support between the arm and plate and prevent loosening forces upon said rivet.

.2. :Adollowerifor a binder of the class described, comprising a plate, at least one supporting arm therefor stamped fromsheet material and having one end overlapping said plate, and a rivet securing the arm to the plate at said overlap, the centralqaortion oT-said arm being twist-ed to conline the "edge-of said plate and its suriaceopposite said "overlap and provide a three point support between the arm and plate and to dispose the outer end-of said arm in a plane normal to that of said overlapping arm portion, and the outer end or said arm containing a bearing :member forpivotally supporting the follower.

3. in a binder of the class described having a pair-of laterally separable ring supporting strips ring members mounted thereon with their upper ends curved inwardly for paper binding "thereon when said strips are closed together in edge to edge engagement, a follower plate for each strip having slots at its inner edge adapted to receive the ring members on the corresponding strip and prevent substantial longitudinal movement between the plate and the binder, a plurality=oi arms rigidly secured to each said plate at its inner edge and having their outer ends "disposedat-an upward angle to the plane of the plate, "follower posts extending upwardly from each "said stripand spaced corresponding to said arms, and a pivotal bearing connection between 'each arm "and the corresponding follower post disposed with its axis above and substantially parallel to the inner edge of the strip, whereby separation of the strips inopening the binder for the addition or subtraction of paper effects a corresponding separation of the follower posts and plates.

4. In a binder of the class described having a pair of laterally separable ring supporting strips and ring members mounted thereon with their upper ends curved inwardly for paper "binding thereonwhen said strips are closed together in edge to edge engagement, a follower plate for each "strip having slots at its inner edge adapted to receive the ring members on the corresponding strip and prevent substantial .longituolinal movement between the plate and the binder, a plurality of armsrigidly secured to each said plate at its inner edge and having their outer ends disposed at an upward angle to the plane of the plate, the inner end of each arm overlapping said plate and being secured thereto by a rivet and the central portion of each .arm being bent over the adjacent .'inner edge of the plate against the side of said ,plate opposite said overlap .to confine the same against loosening of the rivet, fol-lower posts extending upwardly from each said strip and spaced corresponding :to said arms, and a pivotal hearing connection between each :arm and the corresponding follower post disposed with its :axis

above and substantially parallel to the inner edge of the strip, whereby separation of the strips in opening the binder for the addition or subtraction of paper effects a corresponding separation of the follower posts and plates.

CONRAD J. PANFIL, SR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 610,243 Reno Sept. 6, 1898 791,296 Shepherd May 30, 1905 Number Name Date Lotter Sept.- 29, 1936 Schade Mar. 14, 1939 Unger Aug. 19, 1941 Martin Oct. 3, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1913 Great Britain 1928 France Apr. 3, 1928 France Sept. 17, 1928 

